CASE: I-485 Adjustment of Status after Termination of Removal Proceedings with an Approved I-130 Petition
CLIENT: Ukrainian
LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA
Our Ukrainian client came to the United States in March 2010 on a J-1 visa. Her program was not subject to the 2 year foreign residency requirement. She remained in the United States since then. Later, she filed an asylum application to the USCIS and her asylum case was referred to the Los Angeles Immigration Court.
In May 2016, she married her U.S. citizen husband and an I-130 petition was filed for her. While her I-130 petition was pending, the Immigration Judge administrative closed her removal proceedings. Eventually, the I-130 petition was approved in February 2017.
Once the I-130 petition was approved, our client contacted our office to seek a legal representation at the Immigration Court and adjustment of status hearing. She also wanted us to file Request to Join in a Motion to Terminate to USDHS office in Los Angeles, CA.
Our client retained us on February 20, 2017. Once retained, our office filed Motion to re-calendar to the LA immigration court. Her case was re-calendared on the IJ’s docket and her individual hearing date was scheduled. Later, our office filed Request to Join in a Motion to Terminate to USDHS office in Los Angeles on November 10, 2017. However, the DHS office refused to join in a Motion to Terminate. Thereafter, our office prepared and filed the I-485 Adjustment of Status Application and other supporting documents to the Los Angeles Immigration Court.
On May 24, 2018, Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu represented our client’s at her Individual Hearing for adjustment of status at the Los Angeles Immigration Court. Prior to the hearing, Immigration Judge held a pre-trial conference with Attorney Yu and the DHS counsel. During the pre-trial conference, and all of the possible issues were examined. At the conclusion of the conference, DHS agreed not to oppose our Motion to Terminate without prejudice.
Our office filed Unopposed Motion to Terminate without prejudice to USDHS office in Los Angeles, CA on June 21, 2018. On June 29, 2018, the Immigration Judge granted our motion and terminated our client’s case without prejudice.
Our office informed the USCIS that our client’s removal proceeding was terminated. The USCIS scheduled the adjustment of status interview for our client. Prior to the interview, we thoroughly prepared our clients via conference call. On November 19, 2018, our client was interviewed at the Los Angeles, CA USCIS. After the interview, her I-485 application was approved. Now, our client became a green card holder.